Extra, Extra: A New Study Confirms That Old People Still Love Sex

Age, shmage

Good news for anyone even mildly concerned about slowing hormones: Elderly couples still get it on.

According to new research from the University of Illinois, age had no affect in studied conversations about sex. The study attempted to discuss both the triumphs and the trials of sexuality in older adulthood, along with people's personal strategies for staying active. And in fact, the participating seniors (from 14 different online communities targeting people 50+) surprised the researchers by being rather eager to engage and explore the subject--be that due to an impending sense of mortality or a freer sense of self (comparably to their youth).

"Although some older adults reported abstaining from sexual activity due to health conditions or loss of interest, others refused to renounce sexual activity. Their health problems or society's ageist stereotypes that portray seniors as asexual were not going to become excuses to give up on life--or sex," says lead researcher Liza Berdychevsky.